A man who allowed drug traffickers to use his home as a “safe house” to pay off a cocaine debt was yesterday jailed for three years.

A judge at the High Court in Edinburgh expressed surprise that 27-year-old Michael McBride had allowed bags of amphetamine to be stored in a house where there were very young children.

Lord Burns was told that a raid on the house in Renfrew on March 1 last year had also uncovered quantities of lactose used to ‘cut’ or dilute the drugs, as well as other items associated with preparing the amphetamine for sale on the streets.

Police experts said the 12-kilo seizure could have been worth up to £90,000.

McBride, now of Aurs Crescent, Barrhead, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of amphetamine.

Solicitor advocate James Mulgrew, defending, said McBride had been targeted by traffickers because he owed about £1,000 and was told his debt would be reduced if he agreed to help them.

Mr Mulgrew asked for leniency, stating that, although McBride has two minor convictions for possessing drugs, he also had a good work record.

The court heard that McBride’s partner was expecting their third child.

Sentencing McBride to three years behind bars, Lord Burns told him: “Your personal circumstances are such that it is extraordinary that you would have agreed to provide a safe house for drugs in circumstances where you have young children in that house.

“I do take account of the fact that you were under some pressure to do what you agreed to do because of your level of debt.”